Oligarchy comes in a surprising direction.
I thought when oligarchy replaced representative democracy, it would come clandestinely. I had imagined interlocking directorships, gentlemen's agreements sealed with a nod, and Skull-and-Bones-style secret societies.
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| NY Times photo of "billionaire row" at Trump inauguration |
National government has the same formal institutions as in prior years, but they operate differently now. Essentially infinite money overwhelms old-style Madisonian checks and balances. Trillion-dollar businesses flex their muscles openly and proudly. Trump doesn't hide their influence; he showcases it. Since it is done shamelessly, it must not be illegal or dangerous. Right? Besides, being a multibillionaire is so very cool.
College classmate Larry DiCara observes that Elon Musk is understood by many as heroic. That makes Musk and this current form of oligopoly more dangerous than ever. DiCara is an attorney and civic leader in Boston, and an astute observer and practitioner of politics. He was elected to the Boston City Council in his 20s, having negotiated the ethnic political divides in a city where the immigrant melting pot melts slowly and incompletely. He maintains a website, newsletter, and blog: https://www.larrydicara.com
Guest Post by Larry DiCara
Did Anyone Vote for Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is not president of the United States. He is ineligible because he was born in a foreign country. [I don’t see anybody trying to change that section of the Constitution, yet.] Nevertheless, Elon Musk appears to be acting as if he is president and using his vast fortune, perhaps the largest in the world, as well as his enormous electronic network – he has 200,000,000 followers (but then, he does own Twitter) to exercise his influence in a way that, in my opinion, has never been seen before in the history of the United States. He is also trying to influence elections in other countries!
Over 60 years ago, Daniel Boorstin, a well-respected historian, wrote in The Image that business leaders had been replaced by television and movie stars as the most acknowledged people in America. I think it all stems from the eternal need to have heroes. I think the Greeks said, “Pity the country that has no heroes. No, pity the country that needs heroes.” They come and they go from decade to decade. Perhaps, today Musk is becoming the hero that many people need. If his rags-to-riches story is true, then is that not possible for everybody?
Al Gore was a year or two ahead of me at Harvard and once told me that it is difficult to argue for higher tax rates for wealthy people since so many poor people envision one of their children or grandchildren becoming wealthy. America has often worshipped its richest citizens.
As a lawyer, I question the conflicts of interest surrounding many officials of the Trump administration. I especially question Musk’s various activities, given that much of his fortune is derived from companies that have business relationships with the federal government. If he is a government employee, then there are laws governing his conduct; if he is not but he is influencing legislation, then he is a lobbyist and must register. I know, because I have registered, both with the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
There is a myth, almost as old as the republic, honoring the self-made man. In truth, many of the great fortunes have been derived from companies having a relationship with government. Whether it be contractors paving roads on the state and local level, or those manufacturing arms for our national defense, these men and women and their firms have not risen completely on their own.
I also question anyone’s having such undue influence upon a president of the United States, or a governor or a mayor. I think it is unhealthy. I think it is un-American. I don’t think anybody voted for Elon Musk.
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5 comments:
In his campaign to undermine our rule of law and system of checks and balances, Trump has surrounded himself with a bizarre mix of multi-billionaires and unqualified toadies. As he once said in a tweet, it’s “unpresidented.” This is a definition suggested by The Guardan: “Feeling of loss when a president who has neither the temperament nor the knowledge to actually be president is elected president, causing one to wonder who will actually be running the country and triggering feelings of malaise and dread.”
What’s really pathetic is that some wags have suggested the working class turned to Trump because they felt ignored by the “elites.” Hope they enjoy having the country run by them.
This is the first time I believe you have referred to “representative democracy” in the past tense. Quite a line to cross.
I’m reminded of Grover Norquist’s comment on cutting taxes: Our goal is to shrink government to the size where we can drown it in a bathtub.
It appears the six billionaires attending Trump’s
Inauguration has the financial resources to “drown the government” in the proverbial bathtub. If not, do irreparable damage to our republic.
According to Public Citizen, the Trump administration has 13 billionaires, representing the top 0.0001%. Will rule by the ultra-rich deliver for the other 99.9999% of us? Don't count on it.
Al Gore was incorrect about why low-income people would not like tax increases. It's not because they think their descendants will one day become wealthy and have to shoulder the burden of high taxes. I realize the argument is often made that the poor don't pay a lot of taxes, but they really do pay--the gas tax, the sales tax (in states that have one)...The poor don't want more expenses on their shoulders; they tend to think the benefit of higher taxes goes to people other than them. And these days, at all socio-economic levels, people are encouraged to deride services such as public education and libraries; the negativity is reinforced and, to some extent, it becomes self-fulfilling.
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